The missile had already been inducted into the Army in 2004 and will be used by 555th missile group of the army.Agni-II has the capability to carry a nuclear warhead weighing up to one tonne. The 20 meters long missile has been designed and developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory, a unit of the DRDO in Hyderabad.

The missile was part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program(IGMDP) and has appropriate on-board thrusters fitted on the second stage of the missile.Both stages of Agni-II have a solid population system, which facilitated the missile to be mobile and flexible.

Defence sources said the Agni-II carrying a payload of around 1,000 kg,could also neutralize a target at over 2,000 km range.The striking range could also be increased to 3,000 km depending upon the payload.

The 20 meter long and one metre thick Agni-II which has a weight of 17 tons could be launched from a rail-mobile launcher and also in a road mobile configuration, sources said.(UNI)